Bur for knitting-machines.



UNITED; TATES;

ERNEST TOMIKINS, OF TROY, NEW' YORK.

BUR FOR KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,552, dated August 13, 1901.

Application filed March 22,1901. lSerial No. 52,295. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom, t mja/,zj concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEsT ToMPKINs, of the city of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Knitting-Machine Burs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is an improvement in knitting-machine burs, particularly such as are employed on machines for knitting pattern fabrics and backing fabrics, which burshave blocks adapted in pattern-work to press in the barbs of such needles as engage therewith, so that the stitches will be cast from the engaging needles, or in backingwork the blocks are adapted to spring back out of line such of the needles as they are arranged to engage with in order to allow the backing-yarn to be laced between the needles.

The inventionl is applicable to various known constructions of burs; and it consists in the improved construction of the blocks and blades, as hereinafter described and claimed, and the accompanying drawings illustrate a bur and blades and blocks constructed in accordance'with my invention.

In said drawings, Figure lis a view of a bur with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical central section through a bur, on an enlarged scale, with all but two of the blades and attached blocks removed. Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of one of the blades detached. Fig. et is a similar view of one of the blocks detached. Fig. 5 is an enlarged face View of one of the blocks and attached blade. Fig. .6 is an edge view of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a cross-section on line 7 7, Fig. 5.

The bur illustrated in Figs. l and 2 of the drawings is in general construction similar to what is known as the Kavanaugh type of bur, having circular body A, provided with inclined slots ct' in its periphery, which are adapted to receive and retain blades B, which, as shown, have hooks b on one end that project over one end of the body and engage an annular recess a in such end of the body and are confined thereto by a cap-plate O, which is secured by the nut d, screwed onto the threaded end of the bushing or hub D ofthe bur, said hub passing axially through the body, as shown in Fig. 2. As thus far described the parts are all oldand Well known Heretofore the burs have been provided with blocks arranged between the blades at desired intervals, according to the character of work to be performed, said blocks being adapted to press in the barbs of certain of the needles or to spring back out of line certain of the needles to enable the desired operations to be performed, as is well known in the art. The blocks have heretofore been attached to the bur in various ways-for example, they have been made integral with the body of the bur. They have' also been made separaterfrom the blades and detachably fastened to the body of the bur. Others have been formed separately and-riveted to the blades. formed with abutments or projections to take the place of the blocks, and in one instance, I believe, the blocks have been detachably connected to the blades. These different constructions have all had various advantages and disadvantages, and all of them in which the blocks have been formed separately from the blades, but connected thereto, have been expensive to manufacture and more orless unsatisfactory in operation.

My present invention relates particularly to the construction of the blocks and attachment thereof to the blades in a very simple, economical, and practically reliable and eflicient manner, and is applicable to almost any bur having peripheral blades used in manufacturing pattern or backing fabrics, the invention not being limited to any particular contour of the blades per se nor to any particular arrangement or mode of attachment of the blades to the body of the bur.

In accordance with my invention each blade B to which a block is to be attached is formed with an opening b', which may be of any desired contour, being shown as circular, and is preferably located at about the center ofthe exposed portion of the blade, andy also preferably of large diameter, approximately that of the block at its widest point, so that the openings may be readily punched in the blades, thereby avoiding the expense of drilling.

The blocks E are preferably of the form shown in Fig. 4, each block being preferably of a size and form to fit closely against the periphery of the body, (when the opening is circular,) ill the space between any two ad- Again, the blades have been IOO joining blades, and project sufficiently outward between the blades to ellectually block the passage of a needle therebetween without interfering with the gear action of the outer edges of the blades themselves. As shown, the working edge c of the blade has a smooth or gradualcurve, so as to engage and deflect the needle without shock and jar. This edge is preferably grooved, as at c, to keep and guide the head or beard of the needle centrally between the adjoining blades and prevent wabbling of the needle therebetween.

On that face of the block which is intended to fit against the retaining-blade B is a projection E', which conforms in contour to the opening b in the blade and projects from the block a distance preferably equal to the thickness of the blade to which the block is to be connected, so that when the block is attached to such blade, as indicated in Fig. '7, the projection E' of the block exactly ills the opening b in the blade, so that the latter on the side opposite the block presents a practically unbroken surface which will not interfere with the needles nor hold waste flyings. This projection E is an integral part of the block E, and as they are made in one piece the projection may be formed either by cutting away adjacent portions of the surface of the block or by stamping the block and projection from a suitable blank. As shown, the projection is formed at about the center and widest portion of the block and preferably ot' large diameter, so as to enable the opening in the blade to be punched and so as to give greater bearing-surface in the opening. The projection is substantial and unbreakable and being integral with the block can be hardened therewith.

Vhen the openings are circular, as shown, the inner edge of the blocks should contact with and tagainst the periphery of the body, so as to prevent oscillation of the block. In some cases, however, it is desirable to make the openings in the blades and projections on blocks oblong or of other contour than circular, so as tosupport the block entirelyupon the blades, and in this case the projection and opening will themselves ettectually prevent oscillation of the blocks. By this construction no drilling or countersinking .of block or blade is required and no riveting of either block or blade is necessary, nor is there any possibility of the projection workingloose and protruding through the blade, which would cause breakage of parts. Further, the projection cannot become detached from block when the latter is detached from blade. No countersinking being necessary, the projection can befitted accurately in the opening and completely lill the same flush with the surface of the blade; further, the blocks can be repeatedly removed and replaced without injury to the projection or impairing their fit, as the projection cannot become bent or burred (owing to its hardness) so as to prevent or hinder its litting into or removal from the opening in a blade.

Having thus described my invention, what I therefore claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

l. In a bur Vfor knitting-machines, the combination of blades having openings in them; with detachable and interchangeable lblocks each having a projection on one side formed in one piece therewith and adapted to fit into the opening in a blade and thereby hold the block in place, substantially as described.

2. In a bur, the combination of blades having openings in them; with blocks each grooved in its outer edge and formed with a projection on one side adapted to t into and fill the opening in a blade, and thereby retain the block in position between two adjoining blades, the block and projection being formed of one piece of metal for the purpose and substantially as described.

3. In a backing-bur, the combination of the body provided with grooves in its periphery, and a series of removable lblades iitted in said grooves, said blades having openings in them; with the blocks each of a thickness equal to the space between adjoining blades and having a curved and grooved outer face and a lateral projection on one side formed in one piece therewith and adapted to t and fill the opening in a blade, and to retain the block in place between adjoining blades, substantially as described.

Signed at the city of Troy this 22d day of January, 1901, and in the presence of the two witnesses whose `names are hereto written.

ERNEST TOM PKINS,

lVitnesses:

CHARLES S. BRINTNALL, W. E. HOGAN.

ICO 

